British Colonial Furniture
BRITISH COLONIAL STYLE
Typically made of mahogany, teak or bamboo and featuring a range of fabrics and prints with botanical patterns, antique British Colonial furniture and decor varies as it involved local materials and techniques and spanned centuries of design styles.
As the British Empire expanded from the 16th to the 20th century, its conquest and control of colonies around the world bolstered its wealth through the extraction of resources. Including colonies in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australasia, this spread of often violent subjugation imposed British culture, language and faith on Indigenous peoples. The design of homes was included in this expression of imperial power, with government officials, merchants and military officers creating homes mimicking the luxuries they were used to in England.
Local artisans were commissioned to replicate British designs, resulting in versions of Regency, Chippendale, Sheraton and other styles of furniture being crafted from mahogany, rosewood, ebony and teakwood as opposed to beech and oak, which were more common in Europe. Whereas the colonial furniture for the Portuguese and Dutch regularly had motifs of indigenous flora and fauna, the British tended to want more exact reproductions of their home country’s designs.
To escape the summer heat in places such as India and the Caribbean, British colonizers relocated to airy houses in the hills or plantations, leading to foldable chairs and collapsible desks in the style of military campaign furniture. Rather than upholstery as they might have in Europe, chairs and sofas in the British Colonial style had rattan and cane seating for these higher temperature climates. The contrast between the light textiles and the dark colors of the sturdy furniture became a defining aesthetic of British Colonial interiors.
Find a collection of antique British Colonial outdoor furniture, seating, bedroom furniture, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.
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Style: British Colonial
Moroccan Tray or Coffee Table
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Moroccan tray, coffee or cocktail table with a hand hammered removable brass tray, featuring floral and geometric designs crafted with open filigree and old world charm. The base has...
Category
20th Century Moroccan British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
British Colonial Style Pair of Bamboo and Grasscloth Stands or Tables
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive pair of mid century stands crafted in grasscloth and bamboo with four transforming foldout trays or surfaces, can be used with one,...
Category
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Grasscloth, Bamboo
Elizabeth Arden Porcelain Box Southern Heirlooms Made In Japan
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Southern Heirlooms Elizabeth Arden Trinket Box Porcelain Octagonal Shaped.
Southern Heirlooms Trinket Box Made in Japan.
Southern Heirlooms Eliza...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
English Country Brown Leather Horse Saddle
Located in Queens, NY
English Country style brown and black leather riding saddle with a sheepskin blanket.
Category
20th Century British British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Leather
Boater Hat
Located in Glasgow, GB
This is a fine example of a traditional English straw boater hat . Woven by the Falcon Company in the 1930's and in very fine condition with no marks or repairs . The hat size is 6 1...
Category
1930s English Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Straw
$382
Mahogany console desk, English, 19th century
Located in Nice, FR
This desk is solid mahogany, it dates from the 19th century, English origin. It is in good condition. Two drawers on the front with original entry. It can be used as a console or ser...
Category
1880s English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bentwood
British Colonial Grass Cloth and Faux Bamboo Three-Tiered Cabinet and Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British Colonial style three-tiered cabinet desk with a gallery at the top over three step down compartments covered with grass cloth and framed with faux bamboo. The upper and lower...
Category
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Faux Bamboo
Vintage Bamboo and Laminate Fully Adjustable Coffee/Dining Table
By Coastal CT
Located in East Freetown, MA
Unique bamboo coffee/dining table with laminated three leaf folding top and smooth and easy adjustable height mechanism. (18-30) inches.
Category
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Laminate
$799 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Anglo Indian Ebony
Porcupine Quill Box
Located in Pearland, TX
A fine antique 19th-Century British Colonial porcupine quill and ebony box, made in Ceylon the colonial name for Sri Lanka. This fine hand crafted box has a sliding lid and is decora...
Category
19th Century Sri Lankan Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bone, Ebony
Antique Two-Tier Cane and Scorched Bamboo Tiger Wood Side Table with Storage Top
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Antique Victorian Aesthetic movement two-tier scorched bamboo and cane tigerwood side table or occasional table with box storage on top. Bamboo occasional tables like this, are a cult favorite among those in the design circle as well as discerning collectors across the globe. Evoking a tropical or British Colonial vibe, these tables are rare to find, and always a classic timeless piece for just about any room in the home.
You'll find this classic bamboo side table while flipping through the pages of nearly every design magazine. Understated, perhaps because of it’s size, it packs a big punch. It serves as both form and function with two areas for storage. Both a hidden box, as well as a bottom open shelf.
Born in the 19th century, this piece is created out of bamboo. Other terms used to describe this type of material and finish, are scorched bamboo or tortoiseshell bamboo or tiger bamboo. This particular piece is square in form and has four legs. The top of the table is square and features a box with a liftable lid for storage. Fastened with a hinge, it is a great way to hide little things that make a space feel cluttered. (TV remotes, reading glasses, etc.) When closed, the top functions as a normal tabletop. We envision a beautiful vase sitting atop a stack of well-loved books.
Under the top of the table, sits a second open tier shelf for additional storage. Again, we think this would be a great way to showcase a stack of your favorite books or a small bowl of fresh flowers.
Both the top of the table, and the sides are covered in what is sometimes called rice matt. It's more of a woven fiber much like cane or wicker, and can often be mistaken for grasscloth.
This piece would be fabulous if used in a number of ways:
1.) Our dear friend suggested using this as her "smoking box". With the inside holding the items she wouldn't necessarily want in view, but in a convenient enough place to quickly grab things should she need/want to.
2.) Entry table: To eliminate the mess of setting keys and sunglasses on a table, we think this small table box would be a great place to set keys and sunglasses inside, and then closed, to set a purse on top of.
3.) Patio: A lovely plant stand between two patio chairs...
Category
19th Century American Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Metal
Mid-20th Century Restored Rattan Settee With Built-in Side Table and New Custom
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
A rare and sculptural Mid-20th Century rattan settee featuring a Chippendale back design, gracefully arched supports, and integrated side table with original smoked glass top. The fr...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Leather, Upholstery, Rattan, Smoked Glass
Vintage Set Of Two John Derian Jungle Animals Porcelain Lidded Jars
By John Derian
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of 20th century porcelain jungle-themed lidded jars by New York designer, John Derian. Elegant vases feature multiple jungle animals including elephants, tigers, monkeys and zeb...
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Vintage Tortoise Rattan Étagère / Open Shelving Unit
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Beautiful vintage tortoise-finished rattan shelving unit, featuring an airy open design with woven rattan shelf surfaces and classic bamboo-style construction. The warm tortoise fini...
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Rattan
British Colonial Wood Column on Custom Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
A single 19th century British Colonial carved wood column with custom Stand. This antique hand carved wooden architectural element from India, ...
Category
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Iron
English Folding Ships Ladders
Located in Faversham, GB
A superb high quality folding ships ladder in mahogany with a beautiful rich red colour and patina.
The ladder is complemented with nickle plated brass hi...
Category
20th Century British British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
$983 Sale Price
20% Off
Mid-century solid brass obelisk lamp after Chapman
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a handsome mid-century vintage library style solid brass obelisk lamp. This obelisk lamp has a pedestal with four ball feet, holding up the obelisk with a metal black lacquer...
Category
1970s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Vintage Bamboo Chest with Greek Key Design
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage bamboo chest with Greek key design. This versatile mid-century bamboo chest, side table, end table or bedside table has style and storage ...
Category
1950s Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo
Black Labrador Retriever Painting, Oil on Canvas in Giltwood Frame
Located in Bradenton, FL
This statement-size Oil Painting depicts a Black Labrador Retriever standing alert in a pastoral countryside landscape. The dog is portrayed in full profile, confidently poised with ...
Category
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Giltwood
Vintage Hand Crafted Leather Jaguar Sculpture
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Beautiful hand crafted leather jaguar. Leather wrapped and hand painted. Beautiful details and life like.
20” long
10.5” tall
6” wide
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Leather
Antique Chinese Oval Accent Rug with Pictorial Phoenix Design
Located in Dallas, TX
71754, antique Chinese oval accent rug with Pictorial Phoenix design. This hand knotted wool antique Chinese oval rug features a pictorial oval medallio...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
Pair of 19th Century British Colonial Child
s Chairs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of 19th century British Colonial chairs made for children with cane seats, nicely carved arms and half-moon legs.
Category
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wood, Cane
Maitland Smith Post Modern Zebra Hide Box 1980
s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large Post Modern 1980s Maitland Smith decorative box made of a square wood bottom covered in brown leather and top lid covered with zebra hide with a round polished brass and hyde p...
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Leather, Zebra Hide
Antique Tall British Colonial Console Table with Mirrored Skirt
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare and unusual antique English console table finished all around featuring a flame grained and crossbanded top over a distressed mirror and f...
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wood
Bamboo and Grasscloth Chest of Drawers
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Gentlemen's chest of eight drawers with a casual elegance and featuring a bamboo frame, grasscloth panels, stylized sunrise designs on the sides and splayed legs.
Category
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Grasscloth, Bamboo
Red Lacquered Chest on Stand 19th Century, British India, 1860
Located in Epfach, DE
Red lacquered chest on stand 19th century, British India, 1860
Very charming 19th century chest with wonderful lacquered and gilt flower dec...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Indian Ocean Territory Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wood
British Colonial Style Bamboo Recliner Chair with Ottoman
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Mid century recliner chair crafted in bamboo and bent bamboo with caned seating featuring a pull out ottoman and Morris style reclini...
Category
Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo
Faux Bamboo Cane Magazine Rack Stand Side Table Bohemian British Colonial Style
Located in Miami, FL
British Colonial Style Boho Chic Side Table featuring Faux Bamboo frames with a Faux Tortoise Finish, handwoven Cane panels. Chinese Chippendale sides and bases with magazine racks.
...
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Rattan, Wood, Faux Bamboo
Large Blue Wildebeest Antelope Carpet / Rug from Kenya, British Colonial Era
Located in New York, NY
A noble and elegant African blue wildebeest rug or carpet from the British Colonial era in Kenya. Blue Wildebeest are known beautiful and subtle color r...
Category
Mid-20th Century Kenyan British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Animal Skin, Felt
Teak and Cane Colonial Chaise Lounge
Located in Highland, IN
This striking chaise is long, lean and luxurious. A teak frame with lovely carved details and a woven cane support offers a platform for lounging, reading and relaxing. Made more comfortable by a beautiful woven quilted pad and pillow.
This exceptional piece strikes a balance between antique and...
Category
Early 20th Century European British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Cane, Teak
Antique English Two Piece Walnut Buffet Storage Cabinet or Book Shelf
Located in Seattle, WA
Antique English Two Piece Walnut Buffet Storage Cabinet or Book Shelf.
Category
1820s Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Walnut
$1,996 Sale Price
20% Off
Tropical Watercolor on Paper of a Jamaican Scene
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Watercolor painting on paper of a tropical scene with houses, palm trees, and figures executed in a lush pallet. Signed by American artist Margaret Morrish in 1956 at Port Antonio Ja...
Category
Mid-20th Century Jamaican British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Paper
Caribbean Mahogany Reeded and Barley Twist Four Poster Bed, Circa 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
Caribbean mahogany four-poster bed with a carved decorative scrolled spindle head board and foot board, complimented by four reeded and barley twist...
Category
1820s Caribbean Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mahogany, Pine
British Colonial Style Set of Four Safari Chairs
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Dashing set of four vintage British Colonial chairs crafted in mahogany stained maple with a pegged construction in a safari style havi...
Category
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Maple
$5,950 / set
Inlaid Center Table
By David Linley
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Unusual center table crafted in mahogany and walnut veneer with an octagon form top having a sunburst grain design with a floral border inlaid with Macassar ebony, satinwood, sycamor...
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Burlap, Ebony, Sycamore, Walnut
$8,400
Tole Palm Tree Chandelier
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Italian tole five light chandelier with palm leaves over graceful arms with acanthus leaves and floral candle cups all having a rustic aged yell...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Metal
Square Two-Tiered Coffee Table with Caning
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Chic Baker, two-tiered coffee or cocktail table with a sleek black lacquer frame, walnut top, and a caned lower plateau that adds a British Colonial influence.
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Extra Large Early 19th Century English Mirror
Located in Faversham, GB
An exceptional early 19th century mirror from the historic Chatham Dockyards in Kent, England.
The heavily foxed mercury plate is twelve millimeters in thickness and supported by th...
Category
Late 18th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mercury Glass, Mirror, Oak, Pine
$7,110 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century British Colonial Rosewood Display Cabinet
Located in San Marino, CA
19th century Goa rosewood display cabinet with sunburst design on doors. Two small drawers with three large below. Keys included.
Category
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Rosewood
3 framed
signed pencil drawings of Indian gentlemen in regional dress, 19th C
Located in London, GB
Three highly charismatic and personal portrait drawings if Indian gentlemen. Dating from the late 19th century and in original glass and oak frames they portray a Pathan hillman and ...
Category
Late 19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Glass, Oak, Paper
19th Century Victorian Period Oak
Brass Bound travelling Trunk
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A 19th-century, large Victorian period oak & brass-bound travelling chest or trunk. Made from oak with brass mounts and brass carrying handles. It features a warm, rich colour and pa...
Category
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
British Colonial Antique 1910 Cheltenham Silver Coffee Service Sheffield England
Located in Miami, FL
1910 English silver coffee service by Cheltenham & Company, Ltd. Sheffield, England.
All 3 pieces have the same maker's marks on the bottoms complete with the engraved W A Trademark, Warranted Hard Solder England 69430.
Open sugar dish...
Category
1910s English Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Silver, Steel
Large Spread Eagle Wall Plaque, Heraldic Trade Sign
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Large spread eagle wall plaque, Heraldic trade sign
This is a very large piece, it is made in polished silver metal, the plaque would have been di...
Category
Early 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
English Country Fruitwood Bench
Located in Queens, NY
English Country (19th Century) fruitwood bench.
Category
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
Pair of Antique Porcelain Lamp
Located in Dallas, TX
This listing features a pair of porcelain plug-in lamps that are mostly like from the 20th century and likely originate from the United Kingdom or similar areas in Europe.
On one l...
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Side or Office Chairs with Upholstered Seat
Located in Nantucket, MA
Pair of Mid-Century Modern solid rosewood side or office chairs with a slightly curved back for lumbar support. Slightly tapered leg. The seat can be easily removed if you wanted to ...
Category
Mid-20th Century British British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Upholstery
Vintage Boho British Colonial Carved Chest With Bone Escutcheons
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This handsome antique chest of drawers, likely dating from the mid-Victorian or late Georgian period, exhibits classic British furniture design characterized by robust construction a...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Complete Set of Pink Cloth Napkins and Faux Bamboo Brass Place Setting Set of 4
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Make hosting and entertaining easy, with a vintage British Colonial style place setting. Over a year in the making, we’ve sourced hundreds of table settings from all over the globe and paired our favorites in a set. (See our other listings for more beauties in an array of different colors, styles and place settings from 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 16.)
This set features a faux bamboo brass charger from India. It does have a slight patina to it, which makes it look even more storied. We’ve had these custom cloth napkins created just for this set. We’ve brought over this fabulous pink block print fabric from India and created 4 16” x 16” cloth dinner napkins...
Category
20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Large 18th Century Colonial Walnut Chest with Brass Fittings
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
This impressive 18th-century walnut colonial coffer, also known as a blanket chest, features exceptional brass hardware and is constructed from solid pieces of walnut. The chest is d...
Category
Late 18th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
$3,466 Sale Price
35% Off
Faux Bamboo British Colonial Style Occasional Table by Maitland-Smith
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage occasional table or stand crafted in faux bamboo featuring a faux tortoise finish, brass caps and two tiers of tooled leather tops. As...
Category
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Vintage Wicker and Rattan Hand Fans
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Unusual pair of vintage fans with plenty of decorative appeal hand crafted with stick wicker leaves over rattan ribs.
Category
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wicker, Rattan
$1,950 / set
Vintage Brighton Chinoiserie Rattan Blonde Bamboo Caning Split Reed Armchair 70s
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage blonde bamboo, caning and split reed armchair on six legs. This is a handcrafted chair with woven cane seat features bamboo frames and Chinese inspired bamboo patterns.
The b...
Category
1970s Philippine Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Bamboo, Cane, Reed
Pair of Mid-Century Palm Tree Decorative Sculptures
Located in Palm Beach, FL
In vogue pair of mid-century stylized palm tree sculptures crafted in cast fiberglass. Painted in an off white finish and presented in faux planters filled with seashells.
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Fiberglass
Royal Air Force P10 Aircraft Compass No. 10489 T
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Royal Air Force P10 aircraft compass No. 10489 T
The compass has a brass body finished in black, it comes in its battleship grey painted wooden ...
Category
1930s Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Nazmiyal Collection Antique Donegal Irish Rug 3 ft 2 in x 12 ft
Located in New York, NY
Echoing Ancient Art Antique Tribal Motifs Donegal Irish Rug, Country of Origin: Ireland, Circa Date: 1920
Category
20th Century Irish British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
British Colonial Style Faux Bamboo and Leather Bookcase
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style bookcase or etagere featuring a faux bamboo frame, tooled leather panels on the sides, shelves, and drawer fronts having classic lion head hardware...
Category
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Faux Bamboo
English Country Style Framed Flag Embroidery
Located in Queens, NY
English Country style (19/20th Century) maple framed "woolie" embroidery with flags and floral trim with crown top.
Category
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
British Colonial Faux Bamboo and Grasscloth Square Coffee Table
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Midcentury British Colonial style coffee table with a faux bamboo frame and two grasscloth tiers over splayed feet.
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Faux Bamboo
Victorian Pine and Iron Bound Sea Chest, Iron Bound Silver chest
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A large Victorian pine and iron bound sea or silver chest.
This the heaviest and best quality box that you can imagine, it has heavy iron banding on the outside, a superb and lar...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Pine
Late 20th Century British Colonial Tortoise Rattan
Cane Round Center Table
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
stylish Late 20th Century rattan center table by PTMC, designed with a warm tortoise finish and woven cane lower and upper shelf. Its round form and gently flared legs give it a bal...
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Rattan
Antique American Colonial Cherry Wood Slender Leg Pembroke Lamp Side End Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Colonial Cherry Wood Slender Leg Pembroke lamp side end table. Item features tall slender legs with pad feet, drop sides, solid wood c...
Category
19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wood, Cherry
British Colonial furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique British Colonial furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets, seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used British Colonial furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, Asia, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Maitland Smith, Baker Furniture Company, Bloomingdale's, and Ralph Lauren. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $80 and tops out at $88,000 while the average work can sell for $3,161.
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